4 minute read
Ministries: Alaska
North to Alaska.
BY PASTOR JEFF SWANSON
A young man from southern California bows his head and asks Jesus to forgive his sins and save his soul. Vacation Bible school students ask how they can go to heaven. They later ask if they can pray for their family members to go to heaven, too. These are a couple of snapshots of ministry this past year in Alaska.
I’m thankful for the open door God has given us for effective ministry through the Alaska Mission in Bristol Bay, Alaska, a remote corner of the world. I’m thankful for the faithful ministry of Pastor Bob Lee and his wife Margaret at KAKN radio and in the public school. I’m thankful for Heather Hansen, as she works with children and youth and also in the public school. I’m thankful for Josh Fish, who oversees maintenance but has also become very involved with leading Bible studies and worship services and overseeing the aviation ministry.
Last summer was another busy time in the Alaska Mission. We had a full VBS team and shared God’s Word with children in a number of villages. In the village of Ekwok, there was an unusual openness in response to the gospel. Praise God. Our coffeehouse summer outreach, the NET, was also in full swing, with volunteers from many AFLC congregations sharing the love of Christ in word and deed with people from all over the world. Because of the fishing industry, the world comes to the remote village of Naknek, which gives us the opportunity to share Jesus with people from so many backgrounds.
This fall, our regular ministries continued with services in three communities as the weather permits flying. We have weekly Bible studies in two villages, and our radio ministry is on the air 24/7, broadcasting the gospel of Jesus Christ through word and music. We were also blessed this fall with a visit from Pastor Marlon Harris from Mora, Minn., who spent seven weeks here preaching, teaching, visiting, and doing catechization with some of the young people. We welcome other pastors and laymen who might want to be involved in short-term ministry. Rod Scheel and a friend from Fergus Falls, Minn., also worked on expanding the ministry of KAKN radio, a vital outreach to underserved communities in remote rural Alaska.
There are already teams scheduled to do volunteer work at the NET this summer, as well as work projects. God willing, there will also be a VBS team sharing God’s Word in a number of villages, too. Please pray for God’s clear leading and provision for these future ministries.
Our biggest prayer request is for staffing. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37–38). This fall, Pastor Jeremy and Lacey Crowell and their son, Malachi, left the Alaska Mission. In their years in Naknek, Jeremy was involved in aviation, preaching, teaching, and helping out with radio ministry. Lacey taught Sunday school and did a lot of the summer organizational work. Their absence is felt. Pastor Bob Lee, our station manager, has been dealing with long-term COVID effects and has not been able to preach. Please pray earnestly with us for a pastor/missionary for the work in Bristol Bay. We are also seeking a helper for the radio station.
It has been said that God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. Please continue to pray for the Alaska Mission, that God will use it for his glory and for the good of souls in bush Alaska.
